East Coast 10k – Sunday 15th October 2017

The East Coast 10k was my pb course in 2016, so when entering this race earlier in year my intention was to attempt a pb again with my running partner Phil Henry. Unfortunately picking up an injury early August put paid to this. In fact it had meant I had to pull out of the Bure Valley 10m race 2 weeks earlier. That rubbish feeling of not being able to run/race really hit home that day seeing all the great results other Jags had that weekend.

A friend Donna Monk (fellow jag and Brundall parkrunner) was in the same situation, with the same injury. Donna likes to refer to us as the Shin splint sisters! A week before the East Coast race, we got chatting at Brundall parkrun, and hatched a plan. We would run the race together, taking it easy and not aiming for pbs. We decided that as long as we were pain free we would stick together and complete the race.

We both turned up taped up to the max, we quickly dismissed the idea, that tying both bad legs together would make one good leg, and run a 3 legged race!

We set off in glorious sunshine (albeit quite a strong sea breeze). We supported each other all the way round, making sure each others dodgy leg was holding up ok. The support was fantastic from everyone. At the top near the pleasurebeach, we decided we would get a bit of a move on as we suddenly had a fear that they would run out of ghost ship and we crossed the line both pain free with smiles on our faces.

This race has taught me a lot. Not every race has to be end in a pb, the support from the marshals and crowd was the same for the people at the front, middle and back of the field, a race means as much to everyone that runs from the front, middle or back of the field. The running community is fantastic (especially being a Jag) and running friends are simply the best!!